Looking at the FTC Guidelines on Affiliate Links, Endorsing Products and Blogging

You can read the full set of FTC Guidelines here.

Let me start by saying if you are NOT a US resident or citizen, the guidelines don't apply to you. If you ARE a US resident or citizen, even if you are posting on a foreign website, they do apply to you.

Now, I am NOT a Lawyer (IANAL) You do not need to be a lawyer to make sense of the FTC Guidelines regarding affiliate links and product endorsements online. It's written in plain English with numerous examples.

Basically, what it comes down to is this - if there is a benefit for YOU, you must disclose such. If the affiliate links are in a post, a forum comment or an online article benefit you (such as the 5% you get back from OBS) you need to indicate such. Not the exact amount of the benefit, but that there IS a benefit for you. This applies to review copies too - if you are reviewing a product and you were comped, you must explicitly say so.

At The Tavern, every page has the same surrounding text, links, ads, lists. I prominently disclose exactly how much of a commission I get at OBS and OGS. These are at the top of the page, just under the header. This SHOULD cover me for disclosure of any affiliate links in my posts that announce products or are reviews, but IANAL. I could be wrong. It may be that I need more explicit disclosure. I am, however, acting in good faith upon my interpretation of the guidelines in question.

Now, if you do a review of a freely distributed product, or one you purchased for yourself, no disclosures are needed (but you would still need a disclosure for the affiliate links, if any.)

What about connections to products, publishers, authors and the like? I have started to fully (some have said TOO fully) disclose such relationships. I may add some humor to said disclosures, but that's simply how I am.

At this point, I know so many people and publishers that nearly every post mentioning a product will probably require a disclosure from me.

Do I think the FTC is going to come down on bloggers and the like in the OSR for lack of disclosure? Probably not. We are small fish in a small pool. Too much work for too little in return. Disclosure, however, keeps the hobby honest and that is a good thing.

Nothing in this post should be considered legal advice. The examples herein are how I am approaching these guidelines. Notice these are guidelines and not hard rules. As such, there may be gray areas.

Blogging Advice From the Tavern Keeper - A Good Blog Builds a Community, a Great Blog Keeps It

Yesterday, I offered some small amount of blogging advice to a blogger that was seeking commentary on his new gaming blog. Since then, I've also received an inquiry on the idea of doing an irregular series of posts with blogging advice. Now, I often say that I don't know how The Tavern has gotten as successful as it has, but that isn't exactly true. For The Tavern, it's all about "building a community", because that makes your blog more than just another website, it brings a sense of life to it. It can make a virtual location on the web seem nearly real to both your readers and you, the blogger.

Now of course, the question becomes: "How do you build that community?" That's not an easy question to answer. It's an answer with many parts, and not all answers will apply to all blogs and bloggers and not all answers are equal in importance. Here are some of the answers (I suspect there will be more, either added by me later as I think on the topic more or by members of this very community who may have different insight into the process):

1 - Focus on your passion, especially in the beginning. When I first started The Tavern, my posts were all over the place. RPGs, OSR, electronic reading devices, gaming programs and various assorted crap - I was everywhere and no where and it showed. Once I focused on RPGs (the OSR in particular and certainly not only) I started to get my voice. Once you have your voice, you can expand your focus a bit.

2 - Finding your blogging voice. For some this is a persona unique to the online environment. For others, it is the same persona as they have in real life. For me, what you see at The Tavern, warts and all, that's me. Insights into my life, my (now retired from) occupation and other assorted crap - it's all legit. Now, look at the RPG Pundit and his online persona. I can guarantee it's an over the top caricature of the real person behind it, but it's consistent and recognizable. For your readers to connect to you, there has to be a "you" to connect to.

3 - Consistency in posting. Once a week, twice a week, daily, multiple times a day, whatever it is, find a schedule that not only works for you but that your readers will be able to recognize. I generally post multiple times a day and at least once a day (i think I missed one day of posting in the last 4 years or so). I am the exception to the rule. Very few bloggers can maintain my pace, and I have no idea how I did while working a full time job plus overtime I suggest posting at least once a week, as anything less it's hard to build a sense of community around.

4 - Engage the gaming community. Comment on blog posts, G+ posts, Facebook posts, forum posts and the like. Not simply a throw away comment, but add to the conversation. To build a community you need to be a part of a larger community. If posting at a forum, include a link to your blog in your signature.

5 - Remember, it's the long tail. You don't build a community overnight. I didn't, but then again, I didn't even realize I was building a community until I had one, and I am forever grateful to those that have joined me. Like many things, it's those that wait that reap the rewards. Be patient. My first true Tavern post was May 31st, 2009. We're coming up on 7 years.

6 - Do it. You will only get better at writing by writing. You will only get better at blogging by blogging. Don't do it for the wads of cash - there are none. Don't do it for the fame - any you may find is narrow, focused and fleeting. Do it because you enjoy it. In the end, that enjoyment will carry over to your readers.

K, all for now. I'll be in bed mostly today, as my stomach and bowels are an issue along with the joy that all entails...

We Are Exactly a Week Away From The Tavern's Six Year Anniversary - Time to Plan

I can't believe I've been doing this "blog thing" for nearly 6 years.

Now, I need to figure out how to celebrate this with my friends and virtual family here at "The Tavern." I've got some ideas and more than happy to take the ideas of others into account. What started as a mere blog has turned into a strong community, so it's something we all should be celebrating - I couldn't have done any of this without all of you.

The Patreon rewards will be changing a bit come June. Good stuff only. $4.50 and above will be getting some limited "ashcan" printed material - monsters and / or pocket settings mailed to them once a month. I'm still finalizing the logistics but it is exciting. I suspect it will look fairly poor early on, but I promise to get better with practice ;)

Alright, enough blather. Dinner needs to be made.

Blogger to No Longer Allow Sexually Explicit Material

You know those blogs on blogger that make you affirm that there is adult content before you can proceed to read it?

Google-owned blogging platform Blogger will no longer allow its users to post sexually explicit content, the company confirmed today. In a statement sent via email to selected Blogger users, Google said it would no longer allow blogs to feature "graphic nude images or video" from March 23rd. Any blogs that continued to show explicit images would be made private after that date — while graphic images and videos would remain, Google says they would only be visible to the blog owner, admins, and other people with whom the owner shared it. (The Verve)

I guess it IS better to host your own, like your own Wordpress blog than use a host like Blogger, at least for some. Doesn't effect 99% of us, but for the few it does, it's gonna be a huge PITA.

And this right after Zak S pulled the upcoming revamp of I Hit it With My Axe from The Escapist over the views of a newly hired staff member.

4,500 Posts. Er, Plus 1

I didn't realize that last night's post was number 4,500, all made over the course of 5 1/2 years.

Have I really been doing this for so long. Holy shit!?

Just a quick "Thank You" to all who read this mess, all who used to read this mess and all who will read this mess in the future.

There would be no Tavern without the community that has formed around it and keep me keeping on.

You are all the best. Except for "that one." He knows who he is ;)

Followup Thoughts on Last Week's Interview - My Thoughts on Blogging

There are people that consider Tenkar's Tavern a popular blog - and for the corner of the RPG hobby that is the OSR, it is. I'm pretty happy with how things have worked out and I'm happy to share the secrets of its success.

The first secret is - there are no secrets.

Really.

If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know it is probably popular because of the passion I have for the subject matter. I love RPGs and I fucking love the OSR. If you enjoy writing your blog's content, there is a good chance your readers will enjoy it too. If posting is "work", that will be obvious to your readers too. Blog about something you have passion for and you've already passed the first and largest hurdle.

Engage your readers. Engage other bloggers on their blogs. If you enjoy reading forums, engage the readers there. Engage, engage, engage.

Establish a posting frequency. I'd suggest at least once a week, but whatever it is, try to stick to it. Multiple times a week is even better. I'm not suggesting multiple times a day like I tend to do, because the trick to that isn't just "blogging in the moments between", it also requires a certain type of controlled ADD and perpetual multitasking. I blame it on the chemo from a few years back - I used to read a book a week on average, now I'm maybe a book a year. I am still a voracious reader, but now I look for it in smaller pieces.

Be yourself. That may not be the person you are in everyday life or it may be, but it needs to be a true aspect of you. Nothing is worse than a blogger putting on a false show. It's hard to maintain and sooner or later, the facade will fail.

Do NOT expect to get rich off of blogging, especially in a niche the size of the OSR, or RPGs in general. Heck, don't expect to make any money doing it - this way, if you do make some nickels and dimes, you'll be thrilled as opposed to disappointed.

My personal observations have shown me that Adsense and Amazon are just not worth the hassle for the minimal income they will generate. I have found that referral sales from OBS / RPGNow have raised sufficient funds to allow me to run contests and give away gift credit and the like to my readers. A win / win if you ask me.

Most of all?

Do.

Do it. Start blogging. The only failed blog is the one that never was. Even a blog like Grognardia, long since silent, has a voice that still resonates across the internet.

The Interview is Live to View / Listen / Read! Flog Away!

I was interviewed by +Douglas Cole on this past Monday Night for his Gaming Ballistic Blog.

The interview is now posted over at the Gaming Ballistic Blog - Youtube for the video, MP3 format for download and a transcript.

I'm pretty pleased with how it all went. It never would have happened, as I never would have been on the radar, if it wasn't for the community that has enveloped this fine blog. I can't thank each of you enough. All this would just be a form of "mental masturbation" if it wasn't for the fine patrons of this Tavern (I'm paraphrasing my college Creative Writing professor).

Commence the flogging!

How I Go About Blogging - The Secret of the "In Between Times"

We all have it. The moments in time where one has 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 15 minutes away from distractions. On the crapper, in the shower, commuting to work, standing in line, ordering lunch and all the other time killers - this is what I refer to as the "In Between Times". This is when I write nearly all of my blogs posts.

Alright, I don't literally write them then, but I brain storm them, set them up, lay them out and pretty much know where I'm going with it. This way, when I sit down at the computer, the hard work is already done. Five to ten minutes later, it's typed up and hopefully proof-read and I'm posting it up.

Does it always work that way? Hell no. There are times I just sit, looking at the computer screen and go "Fuck me!" Then I walk away.

That being said, my mind is usually mulling something ;)

In Four More Posts The Tavern Hit's It's 3,000 Post - How Shall We Celebrate?

We are sneaking up on the Big 3k Post. It's a bit sooner than I expected, but I'm not complaining ;)

What shall we do to celebrate?

I literally have no ideas. I should, but I don't. It's a cool mark to hit, but I'm actually more excited to be hitting the 4 year mark of blogging on May 31st (ignore the lone post from 2008).

Maybe I should make May a special month...

Slowing Down of the Postings - To About Two a Day

This week will have my lowest number of posts since early 2012 - approximately 13 months. It's not something planned, it's just how things have gone. Oh, and probably more comments in a week than the previous two months combined - so the unintentionally pared down posting has worked fine.

I never really set out for any specific average number of posts. They happen as they happen.

That being said, I'm open for ideas.

I've already compared the Three White Boxes, and going beyond the first books and basic rules would have been looking at truly minuscule differences - I think the main ones were covered well.

I do need to write up some more impressions of Empire of the Petal Throne (yet another "White Box") but this is a game that I can't just speed read through the fluff. It is like walking to school, uphill both ways in 2 feet of snow - you need to take your time with it. Even doing that, I expect to epically fail ;)

There should be an Overdue Kickstarter post up in a day or so - gotta keep them honest. It's also a new month, so there may be some additions to the list as games come due.

Alright, time for dinner and game prep for tonight.

Woot! 250 Patrons at the Tavern!

Adam Bomb is the bomb! ;)

Adam is the 250th patron to sign up to follow the Tavern via Google Friends Connect. Thank you kind sir for joining the fun.

I remember struggling to hit 25 people following this humble blog. We've come a long way.

Sometime this weekend the next DCC RPG contest will go live. I'm not sure what the contest will be just yet, not the prizes, but it will be fun and the prizes will be cool. I'll probably add a few things into the mix like I did last month. If you ever want to know where the referrals from RPGNow go to, they go to prizes and such. Remember, I'm giving away prizes for contest ideas too. Even if I don't use your idea this month, if I use it later I'll still give you the prize.

I'm a Level 7 Pundit - Ding!

According to Trey, I hit level 7 as an OSR blogger over the weekend... that God the OSR doesn't have to worry about new feats.

Thanks to each and every of the 160 of you that made this happen. Now I just need to decide on the next contest to celebrate ;)

I even have 10 followers at Saturday Knight Special and that blog just started last friday nite. Y'all rock!

(link to Trey's Blogging Level Table is here: http://sorcerersskull.blogspot.com/2010/09/old-school-rpg-blogger-advancement.html)

Trying Out Some Software For Blogging Assistance - OmmWriter (OSX)

New Age text editor OmmWriter (for OSX) is the latest software I'm trying for my blog writing.  It isn't blogging software in the strict sense.  I'll still need to copy n paste this into Blogger (with MarsEdit it posted stuff direct).  Still, if it helps me get my thoughts on page just a bit easier all the more power to it - and me ;)

I'm pretty sure the New Age background music is going to annoy the living crap outa my son.  This should be fun... heh

That being said, I'm open for other thoughts on blogging software for the Mac, as the PC only gets booted for gaming these days, rare as it is.

I'm Proud to Be a Part of This Community

Sometimes it takes a bit drama to appreciate what you have. Yesterday, the OSR blogging community had its share of drama and it's members showed the appreciation for what they had. We circled the wagons and came to the aid of one of our own. This really is a "community" in the best sense of the word.

It really does make one wonder how f'ed up an individual has to be when they are constantly negative and downright evil in their nature. In their "real life" outside of blogging they must be an object of such scorn and ridicule that all they can think of is attacking others anonymously on the internet. It is pitiful. Pity YDIS. I do.

Coming Up On Two Years of Blogging

Next Tuesday, May 31st, will make two years of blogging for me (I actually started the blog 3 years ago, but never posted until 2009). It's amazing how fast time passes. I'm also surprised that I found the time to start blogging the day after my son's 16th birthday. Following the math, he turns 18 this holiday weekend. Busy times but fun times.

Last year I spent $10 for google to allow me to use my own domain name. They handled it all on their end, one of the easiest transactions I've ever placed on the internet. Goggle/Blogger hosts my blog, but you don't need to add "blogspot" to the web address. Well worth 10 bucks a year.

Hopefully I've learned how to keep things interesting and entertaining. That being said, I'm still learning. Please, forgive the post that land flat. I'm sure there are many ;)

Now I need to think of something for the 2 year anniversary post... and the 1k post is sneaking up too.

God Damn Frickin Sunofa... !

Blogger blew up my review of Vengeance of the Long Serpent (for Swords & Wizardry) just as I was about to publish it, and of course the draft it saved was the post blow up version.

Sonofa!

Maybe I'll work on it tomorrow nite, tho more likely it will be wednesday.

Sigh.